Process of dyeing textile materials



April 1932- A. J. BELOKOPYTOFF 1,853,654

PROCESS OF DYEING TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Jan. 16, 1929.

A LEXA NDER J BEL OAOPYTOFF INVENTQR ATTQRNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1932 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER J. BELOKOPYTOFF, OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T KATHERINE L. MAYEHOFF, OF NORWALK, CONNECTICUT PROCESSOF DYEING TEXTILE MATERIALS Application filed January 16, "1929. Serial No. 332,963.

My invention relates to processes of dyeing textile materials and more especially silk or wool and has a particular reference to fancy or'decorative dyeing whereby certain fancy designs are imprinted on textile materials,

' such as cloth, etc.

The ordinary method of applying decorative designs in color on finished cloth consists in printing such designs from rolls or plates w on which the desired design has'been previously engraved or etched. The preparation of such printing rolls or matrices represents an expenslve and comphcated process, requiring services of skilled artists, engravers, etc.

This method, therefore, is practical only in cases when a large amount of 'cloth mustbe provided with a uniform' design.

In my improved process I provide means for obtaining beautiful and fancy designs by go simple methods which do not require any artistic skill. The printing design can be prepared with a single or multiple colors, and the design can be applied to the cloth, in several shades or colors with a single im pression.

For this purpose I provide a-printing body with a thin gelatinous layer on which drops solutions of aniline dyes are placed. The dye spreads outin a very thin layer of practically so molecular dimensions. Its particles are subjected to molecular bombardment from the surrounding matter, causing the well known effect of Brownian movement, the paths of particles becoming very ragged and irregular. The resultant pattern acquires thereby a very fancy shape, resembling floral designs, like flowers, trees, etc. Upon reaching a certain stage of development, the movement of particles stops, and the printing member is then ready for use. Its design is transferred on a cloth in a simple manner by pressing same directly on the printing member.

My invention is described more fully in the accompanying specificationand drawings in,

4 which- 7 v 1 Fig. 1 is a view of the design commonly ob tained by my method with a comparatively thick gelatinous solution, Fig. 2 is a similar design obtained with a thinner solution, Fig.

3 is a design obtained with two shades of similar material. The thickness of this gelatwith rubber bulbs. By squeezing lightly the sign obtained with my process. Where Irish moss is used the gelatinous solution preferably comprises one pound of Irish moss in five gallons of water. This is boiled down to a jelly and is screened through a cloth to filter out lumps. The solution is then ready for use. The more liquid the solution the greater will be the spread of the dye and the stifi'er the solution, the less will be the spread. The consistency of the solution is determined by the time of boiling.

The solution, when ready, is spread in a I shallow layer over the surface of a suitable support, for example, glass, metal plate or a.

inous layer may vary, but I found that satisfactory results are obtained with the layer about one millimeter thick, or 3/64", and forms a support or carrier for the dyes.

Other material may be used instead of Irish moss such as various viscous materials, or materials which produce a colloidal gelatinous substance when boiled with water. For preparing patterns I may use water soluble aniline dyes by boiling them in water until a desired shade of color is obtained. Any type of commercial aniline dye or color may be used in carrying out the present invention. This dye or color may be made in the usual way of three ounces of dye to one gallon of water. If a less dense color isde sired, thenmore water is added.

One method of applying the dye is by placing the solution in ordinary glass droppers bulbs, drops of dye solutions are deposited on the color carrying material. Each drop immediately spreads outin thin streaks of a very irregular and fancy shape as shown in Fig. 1 which illustrates acase when a comregular (Fig. 1)

paratively thick gelatinous solution is used as a support. The explanation of this phenomenon lies, probably, in the molecular nature of the materials used. The particles of dye, being extremely minute, are subjected to bombardment by molecules of the gelatinous material in a similar manner as it is observed in Brownian movement of minute suspended particles. The die solution rapidly spreads around on account of the attraction' of the gelatinous matter, and the molecular bombardment causes sudden changes in a direction of movement of its particles, producing a zig-zag pattern. 1

The attraction is less with a thick solution in which case a less rapid movement is obtained, the dye does not spread out as far, and the streaks become more ragged and ir- Somewhat increased attraction causes different patterns to appear as shown in Fig. 3.

The pattern of the design is more or less fixed for the gelatinous solution of a given consistency, so that it becomes possible to cover the whole surface of the matrix with a uniform design by dropping dye solution in a thin solution of the gelatinous matter and gradually increasing the consistency of the solution from one end of the printing bed to the other, an interesting effect is obtained by gradual transition from patterns similar to Fig.1 to patterns of the Fig. 3.

The pattern can be varied by using dyes of different colors or shades. Fig. 3 illustrates -a case when a small drop of blackdye was placed in the middleof the first drop producing effect of the shaded central portion, thewhole picture resembling a flower. This effect was accentuated by drawing a glass rod through the drops, thereby producing the effect of a stem on the flower.

By varying the size of drops the resultant patternmay be accordingly varied, each drop producing an individual pattern with an approximately circular outline, if the dye is unobstructed in its movement. This pattern can be more or less substantially changed, for

instance, by crowding successive drops closer together, inserting small drops between the large patterns, alternating colors and shades by using drops of different dyes and of different consistency etc. I A different effect is produced when the dye is dropped at an angle, for instance, if the printing bed is more or less inclined.

Another effect is obtained if, after the basic design has been produced, the space between the individual patterns is sprinkled with fine etc., can be also usedfor modifying or produc-' ingthe patterns.

All the basic patterns, although, are produced more or less automatically by my method, are of highly artistic and decorative character, and of more or less intricate design which it is diflicult to imitate even for skilled artists by ordinary designing methods.

The design produced by my method on a printing bed, which may be used directly for printing cloth such as silk or wool, or on a similar material, can be also, of course, photographed and reproduced by photoengraving or similar method on metal plates for printing by ordinary methods not only on cloth, but, also, on paper and other materials.

When the printing bed with the desired pattern or design is prepared by my process as above explained, the piece of textile material to be printed is carefully placed on the printing bed in such manner as to float on the top surface of the bed. The dyes comprising the pattern soak into the textile material and apparently are drawn into the material by capillary attraction so that the design is completely and thoroughly transferred to the cloth. After this transfer takes place, the cloth is carefully lifted from the printing bedand is treated by solutions to wash out any of the bed material that may be picked up by the cloth and to set the dyes ly and automatically artistic designs of uniform or varying patterns, for transferring same on textile materials and rendering the transferred designs indelible or fast. No

artistic skill is required in'the use of my process for producing designs, and their patterns can be varied at will within wide limits. Very little time is required for preparing and completing a printing bed by my method.

The designs are obtained of a highly artlstie and decorative nature, which are very difficult to duplicate by ordinary methods, even for highly skilled artists.

I also found that the designs can be modified by adding to the dye solutions a few drops of the extract of the ox gall.

The present invention is applicable to the dyeing of any type of textile material, and 1s particularly applicable to the dyeing of silk. The use of the word dye in the specification and the claims is not limited to any particular kind or character of dye other than those well known in the art and the treatment after the cloth has been dyed is in accordance with the present practice of setting, develop ing or other treatments to bring out the colors and render the colors permanent.

I claim as my invention: r

1. The method of dyeing textile fabrics comprising preparing a gelatinous composi- 7 tion by boiling Irish moss in water, spreading a thin layer of said composition upon a supporting surface, placing small isolated amounts of dye solutions upon said composition, the surface tension between said com- 1 position and said dye solution being such as to cause the dye to spread out to form a pat- 1 tern of a predetermined general type and lay- -ing a piece of textile material upon the sur- I I face of the composition with' the pattern thereon to permit the dye pattern to be transferred to said material. 2. The process of dyeing textile materials comprising preparing a gelatinous solution and spreading the same upon a support to form a printing bed, placing isolated drops of aniline dyes upon said printing bed, the surface tension between said dyes and said printing bed material being such as to cause thedye to spread in a pattern of a predetermined type, mechanically. changing the out line of said pattern by moving an instrument through said pattern and laying a sheet of textile fabric upon said printing bed and permltting the dye to soak into said fabric to transfer the pattern thereto. I Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of NewYork this 11th day of January A. D. 1929. ALEXANDER J. BELOKOPYTOFF. 

